President Joe Biden reported a significant milestone in the September Jobs Report, with over 250,000 new jobs added and unemployment dropping to 4.1%. He highlighted that his administration has overseen the creation of 16 million jobs, marking the lowest unemployment levels in half a century, and noted that inflation and interest rates are on a downward trend. Biden attributed wage increases partly to successful collective bargaining agreements, such as those made by dockworkers and port operators. He urged Congress to support policies that will increase housing availability, expand prescription drug price caps, and cut taxes for families, while contrasting his agenda with Republican proposals, which he argued favor tax cuts for the wealthy and cost increases for middle-class Americans.
Statement from President Joe Biden on the September Jobs Report
Today, we received good news for American workers and families with more than 250,000 new jobs in September and unemployment back down at 4.1%. With today’s report, we’ve created 16 million jobs, unemployment remains low, and wages are growing faster than prices. Under my Administration, unemployment has been the lowest in 50 years, a record 19 million new businesses have been created, and inflation and interest rates are falling. And we’re seeing the power of collective bargaining to lift up workers’ wages—including the progress made by dockworkers on record wages with carriers, and port operators and the reopening of East Coast and Gulf ports.
Make no mistake: We have more to do to lower costs and expand opportunity. Congress should pass our plan to build millions of new homes, expand prescription drug price caps, empower workers and protect the right to organize, and cut taxes for hardworking families. Congressional Republicans have a different plan—more giant tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations, ending the Affordable Care Act, undermining workers by cutting overtime and making it harder to organize, and imposing a national sales tax that would raise costs by nearly $4,000 per year. While they put billionaires first, we’ll keep fighting to grow the middle class.
October 04, 2024 White House, Washington, DC
Questions from Critics
Questions from Republicans:
- How does the administration plan to balance job growth with concerns about inflation potentially undermining economic stability?
- What measures are being considered to address the impact of wage growth pressures on business owners, especially small enterprises?
- Can the President clarify how proposed tax policies will not deter future investments from large corporations?
Questions from Democrats:
- What further steps will be taken to address housing affordability and ensure an adequate supply of new homes?
- How does the administration intend to safeguard worker wage growth against potential economic headwinds?
- What is the timeline for enacting broader worker rights and collective bargaining support as part of the administration’s agenda?
Sources: White House WH.gov, Midtown Tribune
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